John Tavares raves about Easton Cowan’s professionalism after scoring 1st NHL goal

Toronto Maple Leafs forward John Tavares is thrilled to see his linemate Easton Cowan get his first career NHL goal.

After showing some promise through his first eight games but with little to show for it offensively, Cowan finally found the back of the net during Saturday’s game against the Philadelphia Flyers. Cowan received a pass from John Tavares inside the offensive zone and wired a shot past Dan Vladar into the top corner to extend a 4-1 lead early in the third period.

Cowan and Tavares are set to play alongside the returning William Nylander, forming the new-look second line during Monday’s game against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

“I think he’s just such a great kid, great head on his shoulders,” Tavares said Monday after the morning skate. “His approach to this season and the way he is kicking things off professionally in his career, I think he’s had just a great head on his shoulders and a great focus to it. Anytime you’re approaching things the right way, doing what you can to contribute and be solid with and without the puck, especially when you’re an offensive player, it’s great to see him get rewarded and that was a great shot and a big goal for us.”

Tavares was beaming with excitement after Cowan scored his goal. Cowan’s confidence will surely grow exponentially to the point where things start to fall into place for him from an offensive standpoint.

“ Obviously, he’s been buzzing and playing really well,” Nylander said on what Cowan will bring to the line. “ Nice to see him with that first one. I think he will complement us. He is a smart player and he’s making some great plays out there.”

Not every regular will be returning to the lineup on Monday, since Chris Tanev was once again placed on IR due to suffering an injury that resulted in him being sent off the ice on a stretcher and set to a local hospital during Saturday’s game.

“ Extremely difficult. You hate seeing those circumstances,” Tavares said of Tanev. “I  didn’t see the play at all, so I was really concerned something significant had happened and the attention that was needed for him.  But over the last day and a half here, a lot of positive news, and he’s reached out to a lot of us and seems to be doing really well. So I’m really happy for that.”